Extending range of network

The airport icon on the menu bar always shows a strong (4 bars) connection to my new dual band Airport Extreme. Yet my ability to connect to the internet becomes intermittent if I am more than 40 feet from the base station with just one or two walls in between. In this situation Network Diagnostics shows that I am connected to the airport, airport settings and network settings are green lighted and it is the ISP or Internet that are red lighted. So I'm not clear where the problem is.
It seems to me that the range of the Airport should be better than this, but I know there are lots of factors. I can't find any sources of interference. In the open air the range of the airport is about 200 ft.
In this situation would the addition of another Airport Extreme or an Airport Express solve the problem? Is one better than the other when the only consideration is extending the range of the network?

Welcome to the discussion area, David!
+The airport icon on the menu bar always shows a strong (4 bars) connection to my new dual band Airport Extreme+
The "bars" are really more for show and do not present a very accurate indication of the actual signal strength on the network. And, they tell you nothing about the noise levels on the network, so you don't know if other wireless networks around you may be interfering with your signal.
I suggest that you download a utility like iStumbler to get an accurate picture of the situation there.
Your signal will drop considerably moving through several walls, so its possible that a device like an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme to "extend" your wireless network may provide the signal strength that you need as you move further away from the AirPort Extreme. The AirPort Express will only extend one band. If you want to extend both bands of your dual band Extreme, it will take another AirPort Extreme to do so.
What does iStumbler show for signal strength and noise on your network?
Are there other networks on the same channel or a close adjacent channel to your wireless?
Have you turned off your cordless phones (if you have them) to see if that makes any difference in your connection quality?
Message was edited by: Bob Timmons

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Hi i would like to know how to extend the range of my time capsule wifi network(500G 802.11n) using an airport express. i have a double storey home and would like to extend range to my upstairs bedrooms.i have a time capsules network setup via a netgear a

hi i would like to know how to extend the range of my time capsule wifi network(500G 802.11n) using an airport express. i have a double storey home and would like to extend range to my upstairs bedrooms.i have a time capsules network setup via a netgear adsl.i have a second imac upstairs which connects to time capsule wifi network (it is within range as it is directly abobe on 1st floor)
could you tell me how best to set airport express up to extend my wifi range?

Greetings,
This is called an "Extended wireless network".
Read this article for details and steps on how to extend your TimeCapsule's network:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Cheers.

I have an AirPort Extreme time capsule . I need to extend my wifi network range. Which devise is better ?? Airport express or AirPort Extreme ??

I have an AirPort Extreme time capsule . I need to extend my wifi network range. Which devise is better ?? Airport express or AirPort Extreme ??

Since you have the new Time Capsule, then you will need a new AirPort Extreme to match the performance capabilities of the Time Capsule.
If best quality is preferred, you will need to connect the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme using a wired Ethernet connection between the devices. The advantage of doing it this way is that you can locate the AirPort Extreme exactly where it is needed...and there will be no loss of signal through the Ethernet cable.
A wireless connection will result in a significant drop in performance, but it might be OK for your uses, if you want to try it that way first to see if the performance is acceptable.
It is really important that the AirPort Extreme be located where it can receive a strong wireless signal from the Time Capsule.
A line-of-sight relationship between the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme would be the goal, with the AirPort Extreme located about half way between the Time Capsule and the general area where you need more wireless signal coverage.

How to extend an Airport network further than an Express' range?

Hi,
I'm trying to (massively) extend an Airport network, but there aren't electrical outlets close enough together on our property to string together a series of Airport Express "repeaters." Is there another product, eg. from a third party, that has a larger range?
Thanks,
Marv

My policy on answering questions is that I never answer one unless I've done it myself to verify.
In addition, you might want to refer to Apple's own Support Document linked below on extending....which anyone working at an Apple Store would have immediate access to with a few clicks at the computer:
Unfortunately, if someone at an Apple Store told you that the Time Capsule could not be used to "extend"......he was just wrong or too lazy to look up the answer, so he made one up. You might want to show him his own support document...and then talk to another sales guy there when you need product information.
Products Affected
AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (3rd Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (1st Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (2nd Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (3rd Generation)
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4259
Good luck on your consensus building.

How to extend range of my wireless network with an Airport Express connected by ethernet with Airport Utility 6.0

Hi everyone,
I have AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Gen) firmware 7.6.1, that is connected to my main wifi base station (a TimeCapsule) by ethernet. I would like to extend the range of the Wifi Network but am not clear on how to do so using the new interface of Airport Utlity 6.0.
Does anyone have any tips on how to do this?
BR
AK

Hi Everyone!
Many thanks for the tips. I have downloaded 5.6 and have set my Airport Express in the "Extend a wireless network" mode. I was still having a few problems with the quality of the wifi connection in different parts of my apartment (by no means a very large one, but walls seem to be made of extra dense concrete here in Singapore) and went out and bought a few powerline adapters by TP Link (http://www.tp-link.sg/products/details/?categoryid=1862&model=TL-PA211#spec).
If you don't mind a slightly long post, I would be very grateful for any tips:
My setup is now as follows:
Main room
Time Capsule - connected to a Cisco DPC3925 Modem (http://www.cisco.com/web/consumer/support/modem_DPC3925.html) both connected to a TP Link adapter 1.
iMac - connected via Ethernet to TP Link adapter 2 and wifi enabled
Airport Express 1 - connected by Ethernet to TimeCapsule (and thus TP Link adapter 1) used to stream audio to a stereo that doesn't have an optical cable input. Since it is an Ethernet connection, I have wifi turned off.
Apple TV 1 - connected by Ethernet to TimeCapsule (and thus TP Link adapter 1)
Bedroom A
Airport Express 2 - connected via ethernet to TP Link adapter 3
Bedroom B -
Apple TV 2 - connected by Ethernet to a TP Link adapter 4
After following the tips on setting up the extended wifi network, I find that when I use a wireless client (e.g. iPad, Macbook air, etc) in either Bedroom B or Bedroom C (both don't have wifi in the room) the connection is very poor. Even more odd is that the connection in Bedroom A, one that does have Airport Express 2. To be clear when I mean very poor, I mean Skype/facetime skips frames and freezes... this doesn't happen when I am in the main living area.
I would be very grateful for tips on how to set up the most robust network given the configuration above. Specifically, I am wondering about:
When I select Extend a wireless network option on Airport Utility 5.6 the summary page states that it is connecting using "Wireless Network" vs what I would expect it to say "Ethernet connection".
Is there any advice on whether to enable 5Ghz network and if so, should I try to use that for the various wifi clients?
Does anyone know if I can somehow use Apple products to extend the reach of the Cisco DPC3925? Frustratingly the signal is quite strong (compared to Apple routers), but I cannot properly stream audio/video if that wifi network is used (as my iMac that hosts the content is on the Apple one... and I'd have to walk over to switch it to the Cisco one).
Any other tips would be much appreciated!
Cheers!
AK

"Extend a Wireless Network" seems to be... broken?

Hey guys,
Here's the scoop.
I have one Airport Extreme 802.11n that's connected to a cable modem. It's set to "Create a Wireless Network". It's at 5 GHz, and "Allow this Network To Be Extended" is checked. It works fine!
I have another Airport Extreme 802.11n upstairs that's set to "Extend a Wireless Network". I've then entered the network name and password of the original network. It successfully connects just fine to #1, and gets an IP address.
Then, I wander about.
When I get poor signal from the original base station (#1), and I enter the range of the extender station (#2), the laptop switches over to #2 and the network COMPLETELY DROPS OUT.
I.e., I can ping 10.0.1.1, but I cannot access the internet, no web pages can be loaded, etc. I'm stuck -- Airport is dead and I have to power down #2 and reboot.
Has anybody tried using two 802.11n Airport Extremes in this kind of configuration? With both set to 5GHz 802.11n only, and one sharing, the other extending?
If so.. what's your secret? Or is this just a striaght-up bug?
Thanks, Cabel
PS: Don't forget, this has nothing to do with WDS.

Hey guys,
Here's the scoop.
I have one Airport Extreme 802.11n that's connected
to a cable modem. It's set to "Create a Wireless
Network". It's at 5 GHz, and "Allow this Network
To Be Extended" is checked. It works fine!
I have another Airport Extreme 802.11n upstairs
that's set to "Extend a Wireless Network".
I've then entered the network name and password of
the original network. It successfully connects just
fine to #1, and gets an IP address.
Then, I wander about.
When I get poor signal from the original base
station (#1), and I enter the range of the
extender station (#2), the laptop switches over to
#2 and the network COMPLETELY DROPS OUT.
I.e., I can ping 10.0.1.1, but I cannot access the
internet, no web pages can be loaded, etc. I'm stuck
-- Airport is dead and I have to power down #2 and
reboot.
Has anybody tried using two 802.11n Airport
Extremes in this kind of configuration? With both
set to 5GHz 802.11n only, and one sharing, the other
extending?
If so.. what's your secret? Or is this just a
striaght-up bug?
I have the same identical configuration EXCEPT that I am not using 5GHz. Works beautifully. 100% coverage on 3 floors of my house.

Can I use a Time Capsule to extend my wireless network.

Hi, I have just bought a 3TB time capsule as my old (flat style) 500GB TC is reaching full capacity. The old style TC will then be surplus to requirements as a data storage unit, at least for myself, though it might be useful for my son to use as his Time Capsule.
Ideally, as we have a wireless 'blind spot' out in the rear extension of the house, it would be useful to use the unit to extend my wireless network (and also use it as a separate TC if possible). Is this possible? If it is how would I go about it?
Hope someone can help . . . .
Cheers
John

Is it possible for you to consider connecting the Time Capsules together using a wired Ethernet connection?
Here is what Apple has to say in their support document about extending:
Adding Wi-Fi base stations when it is unnecessary can reduce Wi-Fi throughput because the Wi-Fi network will require more data management overhead. The network configuration also becomes more complex. In the case of a wirelessly extended network, throughput may be reduced to less than 60 percent of that of a single device. The general rule is to keep the Wi-Fi network as simple as possible. You can accomplish this by using the minimum number of Wi-Fi base stations required to service the physical network area and by using Ethernet wherever possible.
Extending the range of your Wi-Fi network by connecting Wi-Fi base stations together using Ethernet is always the best option, and will provide the best throughput.
Wi-Fi base stations: Extending the range of your wireless network by adding additional Wi-Fi base stations

What is the best way to extend a Wireless network?

Hi,
We have 3 devices,
1) Our Primary Network Router (which creates our office Network and has DHCP enabled).
2) We have and Airport Extreme, which is used to create our Wireless Network (THIS IS SET TO “Create Wireless Network”), it has DHCP Enabled, its DHCP IP Scheme is set to 192.168.2.x, where the IP Scheme of our Primary Network is set to 192.168.181.x.
3) We have an Airport Express that we are trying to use to EXTEND our Wireless Network.
The most important thing we are trying to accomplish is to isolate the Wireless Network from our Primary Network, so Wireless Clients can access the Internet, but CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Shared Network Volumes AVAILABLE ON THE PRIMARY NETWORK.
At the moment, the Wireless Clients can access the Internet and receive an IP in the range of 192.168.2.x from the DHCP Server in the Airport Extreme. That part of it is working, but the Wireless Clients can unfortunately still SEE and ACCESS the Network Volumes available on the Primary Network. WHICH IS NOT WHAT WE WANT!!
Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
Kalagan

Question 1: How can we have the Airport Create a separate Network, so the Wireless Clients CAN’T SEE or ACCESS the Network Volumes from the Primary Network, but can still get access to the Internet through the Primary Network?
There is no way to do this. Any of the wireless clients of the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS) can see any device connected to the AEBS's WAN port. Clients of a subnet can see anything on the supernet.
You could configure you network like this:
Internet-> (WAN) AEBS (LAN) -> Primary router
As long as the Primary router was providing DHCP/NAT the things on the LAN side of the Primary router would be hidden from the AEBS clients.
A better solution may be to have 2 completely separate networks OR invest in some type of network security firewall device to actively isolate your Primary network.
Question 2: What is the best way to use the Airport Express to “EXTEND” the Airport Extreme’s Wireless Network? I have tried WDS “Main” for Extreme and WDS “Remote” for Express, but all that doesn’t allow you to use the Extreme to Create a Separate Network, it uses the DHCP Server built into the Primary Network’s Router. Also tried to set the Express to “EXTEND WIRELESS NETWORK”, which seems to work, but I am not sure why. Because I don’t have a cable from the Extreme to the Express, which is sounds like you have to when it is setup that way!!
WDS is 802.11g's method of wirelessly extending a network.
"Extend wireless network" is 802.11n's method of wirelessly extending a network.
Neither of them require the AirPort Express (AX) to be cabled to the AEBS.

How do I use airport express to extend my wireless network?

How vcan I extend the range of my wireless network using Airport Express?

It appears that you may have "join a wireless network" and "extend a wireless network" mixed up a bit.
The Express can "join" virtually any wireless network produced by any manufacturer's router if it is provided with the correct settings:
name of the wireless network
the correct wireless security settings
and correct password.
"Join" is normally used for AirTunes or to connect a USB printer to the Express for remote printing.
But, the Express does not provide any additional wirless coverage when it "joins" another wireless network.
Apple's "Extend a wireless network" feature, which was introduced about 5 years ago, allows the Express to connect to another Apple "n" wireless router and then "repeat" or "extend" the wireless signal....providing more wireless coverage in the area where the Express is located.
This is a proprietary setting. Apple says it will not work with devices from other manufacturers. To our knowledge, this is correct.
Prior to 2007, Apple used a setting called WDS to allow the Express to be configured to provide more wireless coverage. Attempts were made by a number of manufacturers to standardize the WDS settings, but things were never finalized.
The result is that Apple's older "b/g" routers were sometimes compatible with WDS settings from another manufacturer. There were a handful of products....5 or 6, as I recall....that were said to work. Some did, some didn't. Linksys had a couple of models, Netgear had one, SMC another, etc. Extremely limited.
Since WDS was never adopted as an industry standard, manufacturers developed their own WDS settings. Compatibility was extemely limited and unreliable. That continues to this day with WDS.
Bottom line....It is always best to stick with the same manufacturer throughout your network as far as routing is concerned.
If you have an newer "n" Apple router like an AirPort Extreme, the Express can extend the wireless as can along Extreme. If your Extreme is dual band, and you want to extend both bands, then you need another Extreme.
Another responder suggested to someone that they could connect the AirPort Express to a router via Ethernet. What exactly would that achieve?
That is a completely different subject since this discussion is about extending a wireless network using wireless only.

Can I use my Time Capsule to extend a current network? If so, How?

Can I use my Time Capsule to extend a current network? If so, How?

I want to use it wirelessly to extend the range of the network. I currently have an xfinity router as the main.
You may not have understood what I was trying to say above.
If you want the Time Capsule to extend wirelessly, then you must have an Apple router as your "main" router.
You have an xfinity router. You cannot use the Time Capsule to extend the range of an xfinity router wirelessly.

Airport Express is no longer able to extend my Airport network.

After the 7.6.1 upgrade, my Airport Express is no longer able to extend my Airport network. I didn't change any configuration, but as I was confirming the configuration options in Airport Utility, I noticed that the option for the Airport Extreme to "allow this network to be extended" is missing and that my Airport Express had been changed to client mode. I really need the capability of extending the range of my network, it worked before the firmware upgrade, so how can I get it back? The hardware are both less than a year old (I bought them in the summer of 2011).

I suggest downloading Airport Utility 5.6
It was released the sameday as 6.0 but it doesn't have the features you used to have as you just found out.
Airport Utility 5.6
http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

Problem with extending range

I have two airport express routers connected wirelessly using extend a wireless network. one of them connects to a adsl modem via ethernet. The problem is that one of the routers (the one extending the range) needs to restart every day, sometomes twice a day. both are running 7.5.2. This is annoying anyone have a solution to avoid restarts?
One of the routers is new (latest) while the other is a bit older(1 to 1.5 years old) could that be causing the problem?

Without knowing anything about the distance involved between the two Expess devices, or the number and kind of obstructions that may be in the signal path, we can't provide much in the way of suggested improvements.
In general, users tend to place the "extending" Express much too far away from the main router. A good starting point is a location that is about 1/2 the distance from the main router to the area that needs more wireless coverage.
The reason for this is that the "extending" Express can only repeat or extend the bandwidth that it receives from the main router. It does not "boost" the signal....it makes the signal that it receives go further. In that regard, it acts much more like a repeater.
If you want get a bit more scientific about things, the way to do that is conduct a survey of SNR or Signal to Noise Ratio at various points to find the best compromise location for the extending AirPort Express.
Post back if you are interested in this.

Extending an existing network

Hello,
Which setting should I used to extend my existing network?
Should I set the Airport Express to JOIN AN EXISTING WIRELESS NETWORK (CLIENT)?
Anything else I need to do to extend the range of my network?
Thank you,
Juha

No problem.
Try the following ...
Set up a Wireless Distribution System (WDS)
(Note: To facilitate the WDS set up, place the base stations in near proximity of each other during the initial configuration phase. Be sure to jot down the AirPort ID MAC addresses for each of the base station that will be used in the WDS.)
Main Base Station Setup - AEBS
Either connect to the AirPort Extreme Base Station's (AEBS) wireless network, or, temporarily, connect directly (using an Ethernet cable) to the LAN port of the AEBS, and then, use the AirPort Admin Utility (located in /Applications/Utilities), in manual mode, to make the following settings.
WDS Tab
o Enable this base station as a WDS: main base station (checked)
o Allow wireless clients on this base station (optional)
o Click "+" to add a Remote base station.
o Select the base station that you want as the WDS Remote. This should be your AirPort Express Base Station (AX).
o AirPort ID: <verify that this is the correct wireless MAC address for the AX>
o Auto configure as a WDS remote base station (checked)
o Click "OK."
o Verify that the AX has been added to the list.
o Click "Update," and then verify the settings for the Remote.
o Allow wireless clients on this base station (checked)
o New network name: <verify that this is the same as the network name for the AEBS>
o TCP/IP: Configure using DHCP
o Base Station Password: <the AX's base station password if you're using one>
o Confirm: <same as previous step>
o Click "OK."

This AirPort base station was unable to extend the wireless network.

I have an AirPort Extreme in the lounge connected to BT infinity.
I also have an airport express in the kitchen connected to a stereo system.
I have had this set up for around 12 months.
The airport express will not extend the wireless network.
I reset it, restart, factory reset etc and it will work fine for around 3 days, then I get the same error message saying
This AirPort base station was unable to extend the wireless network. Make sure the wireless network you’re trying to extend was set up and is working correctly, that you entered a matching wireless network password into this device, and that this device is in range of the wireless network.
The express is situated easily within range of the extreme. And the airplay between those two, my iMac and two apple tv's works pretty much as it should.
Can someone please shed some light on this?
Maybe I have it in a wrong setting or summut....

G Beach wrote:
I am also experiencing a recent failure in my Airport devices no longer extending my wireless network.
My Aiport Express and second Airport Extreme were extending my wireless network for more than a year
The only change that has taken place lately is that the firmware for both devices was upgraded to 7.6.4, however the upgrade was only in response to trying to resolve this problem. Needless to say, the firmware upgrade did not resolve anything.
If I didn't know better, I'd have thought I wrote the above.
I have a TC from a few years ago (last one before the tower, I think), plus the older AEBS that it replaced extending the network, plus a 1-year-old Express also extending. I had upgraded them all to 7.6.3/4 when it came out, but reverted them all to 7.6.1 when everything went crapways (others having the same issues of the LAN regularly croaking), and didn't bother upgrading again since.
Today I just tried 7.6.4 on all of them, and it seemed OK at first with green lights all around in Airport Utility. Then I made one change, which was to enable 5Ghz on the main AEBS/TC only (the express doesn't need it, and the older AEBS can't do it).
The latter two started flasing amber and giving the "unable to extend wireless network" error message.
So I'm wondering if you are similarly using 5Ghz?

Iphone will not recognize an Airport Express extending a wireless network

Hi. I asked elsewhere in the support community and someone suggested I also ask here. I have two Airport Expresses, one in my living room that is creating a wireless network, and another in the back of my house, extending a wireless network so it will reach in to the back yard. The one in the living room is the new 2012 model, and the one in back is the pre-2012 model. They both have the latest firmware, and I configured them both using the Airport Utility, and can confirm they are working as configured, to create and extend a wireless network.
My mid-2010 Macbook with Lion shifts between devices effortlessly, switching to the stronger signal when I move between the house and the back yard. I can verify this by selecting Option+Click on the wireless widget in the menu bar and checking the BSSID against the Airport Utility. But the signal from the living room unit still reaches in to the back yard, and as far as I can tell, and the iPhone 4S cannot recognize the existence of the extending unit (outside of the Airport Utility). I know the former is a well-known problem, the iPhone is unique in that it will annoyingly hold on to the existing connection for dear life, even when a stronger one is available. I thought I could work around that by power cycling or disabling/reenabling Wi-Fi when out of range of the living room unit to get around that problem but even that doesn't work.
When I go some place out of range of the living room unit but still within line of sight of the back yard unit, say the neighboring field, the laptop can connect to the back yard unit with about -75 RSSI, but the iPhone does not even see the wireless network. Even after a power cycle at that location. If I approach my back yard from the field while constantly scanning Wi-Fi (switching between the front pane in the Settings app and the Wi-Fi pane), the iPhone does not see my network until it sees the living room unit, at which point it tries to connect, and the Airport Utility shows the iPhone is connected to the living room unit, not the back yard unit. This is in contrast to the Macbook which both sees the extending Airport and happily connects to it when it has better signal than the living room unit.
Any idea why the iPhone cannot see the extending Airport Express but the Macbook can?

Anyone? Has anyone had experience with this problem? I've reset the extending Airport and reapplied the settings and still have the same problem.

Extending range of network

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